Launch of Refugee Health Care Handbook

Health Minister Annette King today
launched a refugee health care handbook, calling it “another
part of this country’s ongoing commitment to asylum
seekers”.

Mrs King launched Refugee Health Care: A
handbook for health professionals at the Fickling Centre, In
Mt Albert Road, Auckland.

Mrs King said: “I am proud that
New Zealand is one of only nine countries worldwide offering
a regular quota of places for refugees identified by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And I am also
proud that New Zealand was the first country in the world to
accept refugees with disabilities.”

This new handbook was
the outcome of nationwide consultation, Mrs King said.
“New Zealand's health professionals offer a humanitarian
approach to refugee settlement and provide a good service
now, but there is always room for improvement. This handbook
is about achieving just that.

Mrs King said successful resettlement depended
on responding well to refugee needs. ”Our goal is an
integrated approach to resettlement. This handbook outlines
where to access services and information on refugee health
issues. Those issues may include tuberculosis, infectious
diseases, grief, bad nutrition, war injuries and many other
physical or mental health issues.”

Mrs King said the
handbook also outlined the cultural and ethnic backgrounds
of the main refugee groups accepted into New Zealand and
provided advice to health professionals on how to conduct
culturally sensitive consultations.

“Contributors include
the Immigration Service, New Zealand College of General
Practitioners, Plunket, and Auckland, Canterbury, and Hutt
Valley District Health Boards. A number of other agencies or
individuals working with people from refugee backgrounds,
and refugees themselves also contributed to the
handbook.

“I wish to thank those who shared their thoughts
and sometimes sad experiences. Their work will bear great
dividends for many refugees over coming
years.”

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